When you visit The Wexford, our fourth and newest Bria seniors’ living community in Tsawwassen, it is more than likely you will meet Bernyce and Bill.
Why? Because they are often out and about (usually getting into mischief), greeting visitors as they arrive.
Official ambassadors? Maybe… They both like to meet new people, find out who they are, and then explain why they chose The Wexford as their new home.
We asked them what qualities they see in themselves that make them so outgoing and truly interested in others.
We discovered that they are both world travellers.
Bill has been to Fiji, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Costa Rica… nine times to New Zealand, Australia twice, and five times to Scotland.
Bernyce has been all over BC, Alberta and Manitoba, and, with her husband, visited Hawai‘i twice a year for as many years as she can remember.
What do these two intrepid explorers all have in common? Curiosity? Independence? A willingness to take risks? More?
The answer may surprise you! They connect with people. And that is what brought them here.
Yes, The Wexford, is their home: a 65 suite, purpose-built residence with two homecooked meals per day, lots of events and activities, and supportive features, such as a 24-hour alert system and weekly housekeeping.
But it is the people that makes the community what it is! The Wexford residents are a closeknit group who truly bring Bria’s ‘Get to know your neighbours’ slogan to life.
“I talk in superlatives,” says Bill of his new home. “I’ve never encountered any place where every single member of the staff is imbued with this absolute urge to satisfy us…”
And with years of volunteer commitments of his own, as an executive of the The Royal Canadian Legion and leader of the Poppy Campaign for 20 years, and as director for two church choirs, he knows what it takes to deliver personable service without exception.
“It’s mainly the people here who are so outstanding”, Bernyce says of The Wexford, “and until you move in, you won’t know what it’s like.”
Her friendships are prolific… she still has her Hawai‘ian ‘family’ visit her, the children of the friends she made in Waikiki, where she learned to dance, drum, play the ukelele, and live life to its fullest.
Which tells us that ‘place’ is important. Where you are makes a difference in whom you meet… and ultimately the person you become. A place is what you make of it.
“Visiting this place changed my mind.” reflects Bill upon how he was initially unsure of moving in to a so-called ‘seniors’ community. “Once I met the people here, I knew this place was going to be my new home.”
Want more information about what life is like at a Bria community? Contact Rosanne Philbrook, Manager at 604.948.4477
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